On the day of the trade deadline, the Las Vegas Raiders traded veteran wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Multiple teams showed interest in Meyers, but ultimately, the Jaguars acquired him for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
In seven games played, Meyers hauled in 33 of 49 targets for 352 yards and four touchdowns. Pairing him with Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter has the potential to form a top wide receiver trio in the league, and no one is happier than Trevor Lawrence. But why did the Raiders trade Meyers in the first place?
Why Did the Las Vegas Raiders Trade Jakobi Meyers?
The trade didn’t come out of nowhere; in fact, it was probably the most expected deal to occur during this deadline. Here’s why.
Coming into the 2025-26 season, Jakobi Meyers was in the final year of a three-year, $33 million deal, effectively making him a free agent after the season. After a successful 2024 campaign with 87 receptions, 1,027 yards, and four touchdowns, Meyers believed he did enough to warrant an extension. However, management did not share the same sentiment.
Not only did a new deal not materialize for Meyers, but he had also requested a trade. Along with the trade request, performances from fellow receivers made the Raiders more likely to move Meyers.
Four years younger than Meyers is wide receiver Tre Tucker. So far this season, Tucker has 34 receptions for 455 yards and four touchdowns.
Additionally, Brock Bowers has just returned from injury. In six games, he has 32 receptions for 383 yards and three touchdowns. He has put up better numbers than Meyers in just five games.
Due to the lack of a new contract and stronger production from younger receivers, the Raiders traded Jakobi for future assets to aid their rebuild.
Why Did the Jacksonville Jaguars Trade for Jakobi Meyers?
Despite having Thomas Jr. and Hunter, this deal made a lot of sense for the Jaguars.
First, Hunter suffered a non-contact injury in Week 9 practice that placed him on injured reserve. He’s out for a minimum of the next four games, with the potential for more time off depending on his recovery.
Second, Thomas Jr. is also battling injury concerns. The sophomore wide receiver is reportedly suffering from a low-grade high ankle sprain. The recovery time is unknown, but data suggest the average injury length for wide receivers is 2.8 weeks.
The Jaguars are ranked 19th in PFSN’s Offensive Impact metrics. Any help they can get is valuable, especially as the team is 6-4 and battling for a playoff spot. In his first two games with the Jaguars, the 29-year-old wideout has recorded eight receptions for 105 yards on nine targets.
Las Vegas Raiders’ Insights for Week 11
Team:Â Las Vegas has scored nine points or fewer four times in nine games.
QB:Â Geno Smith had his best QBi grade (84.3, B) of the season in Week 9 against the Jaguars. In week 10 against the Broncos, he had his second-worst.
Offense:Â The Raiders have committed at least one turnover in eight of nine games. They have 14 turnovers on the season.
Defense: The Raiders’ 69.8 DEFi is the second-lowest score by a team with Pete Carroll as head coach over his last 15 seasons.
Fantasy: The Raiders have played three teams that rank in the bottom 10 at defending the run. In those games, Ashton Jeanty is averaging 18.8 PPG. The Cowboys will make it four in a row this week.
